Loose-leaf binder



sept. 2z, 1925. 1,554,416

F.` H. CRUMP LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug.16, 1924 Fien/vk l1. CEc/MP 4 Y//V/L/ /4 K Fia-1f f /f mmm.

Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES FRANK H. CRUMP, OEE' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNFA.'

LOOSE-LEAF BmiJER.

Application filed August 16, 1924, Serial No. 732,497.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. CRUMP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a speciication.-

My invention relates to loose leaf binders, and more particularly to means for binding loose leaves having perforations or slotted openings in their edges and for holding the bottom and top binder parts in spaced re'- lation in respect to each other and for permitting the removal or insertion ofloose leaves.

Ordinarily, in loose leaf binders of this type the top or locking member is drilled or punched to receive the binding posts carried by the bottom or post member', the locking bar inside the locking member being made of one metal piece with two openings for the binding posts, and the locking bar being pushedagainst the same side of both binding posts simultaneously and the posts in turn being pushed-against the opposite side of the openings in the outer shell. Each post is thus held on one side by the locking bar Vand on the other side by the outer shell.-

In order that equal pressure may thus be exerted on both binding posts, it is essential that both posts be precisely the same shape and 'diameter and that the two openings in the locking bar and the outer shell register perfeetl with each other and with both posts. lf suchis not the case the locking member will firmly clamp one binding post and slip on the other post. With this type 'of locking member it is almost impossible to secure equal pressure on both posts.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a locking member with an outer shell and inner locking bars which may be punched for standard sizes previous to assembling the parts, and also a limited number of special length locking members which may be cut off to, make other sizes, any of which may be ,drilled for any sizel post with any post centers, the locking members being made to lock securely with equal pressure on both posts so that neither post will slip.

l will describe only one form of loose leaf binder embodying my invention, and

tional view of the binder shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the binder shown in the preceding views;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are detail p'erspectivel views of the locking bars comprised in the binder shown in the preceding views;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the shell or casing shown in the preceding views.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views of the drawing.

The present embodiment of my invention comprises a. top locking member A, a bottom post member .B and binding posts C and C', to which are connected in the ordinary `method the top cover D and the bottom cover E, between which the loose leaves F are received and held. The top locking memberv A consists of an outer shell or casing A', an inner primary lockingl bar A2, an vinner secondary locking bar A3, a locking nut A?, and a locking screw A5. The outer shell A is perforated at 1 and 2 to receive the binding' posts C and C. Likewise, the primary locking bar A2 is perforated at 1A to receive the binding post C and is provided at the other end with an elliptical opening 3, through which the post C passes. The secondary locking bar A3 is perforated at 2A to receive the binding post C. The secondary locking bar A3 fitsv inl side the primary locking bar -A2. The primary locking bar A2 is provided at one end with a locking nut A4 which is threadedat 4 to receive the locking screw A5. The locking screw A is threaded at oneend 5', and provided with a handle 6 at the other end and a shoulder 7. Near Vthe end of the'screw portion 5 a groove 8 is provided, over` which passes the slot 9 of the secondary locking bar A, making a close fit but allowing the locking screw A5 to revolve freely. The oute'r shell A is provided with an opening 10 to receive the shoulder 7 of the locking screw A5. The rivet 17 through a s lot 19,. in the primary locking bar, prevents movement to the left of the handle 6 of the locking screw A5`after the locking bars have been placed in the outer shell A', but the locking screw A5 may be revolved to the right by the handle 6 to move both bars in locked engagement. Rivets 17 and 18 hold the outer shell together after the locking bars A2 and A3 have been placed inside.

When the -top locking member A madeas described above is placed' on the bottom member B, containing the binding posts C and C and the locking screw A5 turned to. the right, the secondary locking bar A5 is forced against the opposite side of the outer shell, as shown in Figure- 3. C'Ontinued turning of the locking screw draws the primary locking bar A2, which in turn draws the post C to the opposite side of the opening in the outer shell and when full force is exerted the two locking bars drawing in opposite directions throw the posts against the openings in the outer shell and grip it as in a vice, thereby preventing the removal of the top locking member A from the bottom post member B.

Provision is made for a movement of the locking screw A5 sufficient to securely lock the binding posts C and C" before the shoulder 7 on the locking screw A5 strikes the opposite side of the opening 10 in the outer shell A', or before the shoulder 7 of the locking screw A5 strikes the nut A, either of which prevents further movement of the locking screw A5. Provision is made for a movement of the locking screw A5 greater than is necessary to securely lock the posts C and C in order to take-care of wear in the binding parts. Provision is also made for a quick release of t-he top locking member A by turning the locking screw A5 to the left until the shoulder 7 strikes the outer edge of the opening 10 in the outer shell A, which releases the locking bars A2 and A3 and the top locking` member A with top cover D' attached may then be lifted of the bottom post member B with bottom cover E attached, thereby providing for the insertion or removal of the loose leaves F.

The elliptical opening 3 in the primary locking bar A2 is made approximately onehalf the length of the bar and the secondary locking bar A"I made slightly longer than the elliptical opening inA2. This provides for a plurality of post centers.

Three or more binding posts may also be used with the top locking member, locking on the two outside posts only. The secondary locking bar being made long enough on all metals to provide for a third post in the center, and the elliptical openings in the primary bar being made long enough to prevent locking on the center post.

The primary and secondary locking bars i' makes aclose fit in the outer shell and is thin enough to grip the posts and stiff enough to insure accurate punching or drilling of post holes.

The handle 6 which is permanently attached to the locking screw A5 may be made of metal, fiber, rubber or other suitable material and of my desired shape.

The upper sect-ion of the binding posts C and C may be made of rubber, as shown in Figure 3. lThe rubber 13 is held on the metal 14 by a groove 15, the threaded portion 16 being screwed into the other sections. The rubber end protects the furniture and when made the same diameter as the other sections allows for the removal of I the top cover A without removing the top sections 11 and 12.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of loose leaf binder embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modiiications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the. appended claims.

I claim:

1. A loose leaf binder comprising a base,

postsfixed to and upstanding from the base,

a casing removable on the posts, locking members in the casing movable in opposite directions, each member locking on different posts, and a rotatable element thread-l edly engaging one of the members and rotatably connected to the other member.

2. A. loose leaf binder comprising a base, posts fixed to and upstanding from the base, a casing' having openings to receive the posts, bars slidable in the casing, each bar aving an opening through which it engages a post not engaged by the other bar, and a screw threaded element threaded in one of the bars and rotatably mounted in the other for moving thebars in opposite directions whereby the posts are 'moved to grip the casing and lockthe latter against removal from the posts.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising a base, posts fixed to and upstanding from the base, a casing having openings therein to receive the posts, a primary locking bar movable in the casing and having an opening to receive one of the posts and a slot to receive the other, a secondary locking bar within the casing having a single opening for receiving that post received by the slot of the primary locking bar, a nut secured to the primary locking bar, a screw -threadedly engaging the nut and having a Swiveled connection with the secondary locking bar, said casing having an opening therein, and a projection on the screw rotatable-in the opening of said casing for limiting the movement of the screw and y are preferably made of channel metal which claim 3, wherein the primary and secondary,

member.

4. A loose leaf binder as embodiedl in locking bars are of U-form in cross section, the secondary locking bar being slidably received Within the primary locking bar.

5. In a loose leaf Vbinder of the class described, a clamping member, a post member, binding posts connecting the clamping member a'nd the post member, the binding posts being carried by the post member, the free ends of the binding posts being ar- .ranged to enterregistering openings in the clamping member, the clamping member being provided with a primary adjustable bar locking oriV a binding post through an openin registering with an opening in the outer s ell, a secondary adjustable bar locking"on another binding post through an opening registering with another opening in the outer shell, means for operating both locking bars simultaneously.

6. In a loose leaf binder of the class described, a clamping member, a post member, binding posts connecting the clamping member and the post member, the binding posts being carried by the post member, the free ends of the binding posts being. arranged to enter registering round openings in the clamping member, the clamping member being provided with a primary adjustable bar locking on a binding post through a round opening registering with a round opening in the outer shell, a secondary adjustable bar locking on another binding post through a round opening registering with another round opening in the outer' shell, and means for operating both locking bars simultaneously.

7. In a loose leaf binder of the class described, a clamping member, a post member, binding posts connecting the clamping member and the post member, the bindlng posts being carried by the post member, the free ends of the binding posts being arranged to enter registering round openings in the clamping member, the clampmg member being rovided with a primary adjustable bar, lbcking on a blnding post through a round opening registering With a round opening in the outer shell, one end of the bar being provided With an elliptical opening through Which oneJ of the binding posts passes loosely, a secondary adjustable bar locking through a round opening registering with a round opening in the outer shell on a binding post which asses loosely through the primary locking ar, and means for operating both locking bars simultaneously.

8. In a loose leaf binder of the class described, a clamping member, a post memposts being arranged to enter registering round openings in the clamping member, the clampin member being provided With a primary adjustable bar locking on a binding post through a round opening registering with a round opening in the outer shell,

one end of the bar being provided with an elliptical opening through which one of the binding posts passes Without being lockedl thereby, a locking nut permanently secured to the end of the primary adjustable locking bar adjacent the elhptical opening, a secondary adjustable bar locking through a round opening registering with a round opening in the outer shell onA a binding post which passes loosely through the elliptical opening in the primary locking bar, and 'a locking screw operating simultaneously the primary and secondary adjustable locking ars.

9. In a loose leaf binder of the class described, a clampingmember, a post member, binding posts connecting the clamping member and the post member, the binding posts being carried by the post member, the free ends of the binding posts being arranged to -enter registering round openings in the clamping member, the clamping member being provided with a primary adjustable bar locking on a binding post through a round opening registering with a round' opening in the outer shell, one end of the bar being provided with an elliptical opening through which one of the binding posts passes Without being locked thereby, a locking nut permanentl secured to the end of the primary adjusta le locking bar adjacent the elliptical opening, a secondary adjustable bar locking through a round opening registering with a round opening in the outer shell on a binding post which passes loosely through the elliptical opening in the primary locking bar, and a locking screw operating the primary adjustable bar through the locking nut and operating the secondary adjustable bar through a slot in the bar which removably fits' a slot in the end of the lookin screw.

10. In a loose eaf binder of the class described, a clamping member, a post member, binding posts connecting the clamping member and the post member, the binding posts being carried by the post member, the free ends of the binding posts being arranged to enter registering round openings in the clamping member, the clamping member being provided With a primary adjustable bar locking on a binding post through a round opening lregistering with a round opening in the outer shell, one end of the .bar being provided With an elliptical o ening through which one or more' bin ing posts pass Without being locked thereby, a. locking nut permanently v,secured to the end4 of the primary adjustable locking bar adjacent the elliptical opening, a secondary adjustable bar locking through a round opening registering with a round opening in the outer shell, on a binding post which 6 passes loosely through the elliptical opening in the primary locking bar, and a? locking screw operating the primary adjustable bar through the locking nut and operating the secondary adjustable bar through a slot in the bar which removably fits a slot in the end of the locking screw, the locking` screw being provided with a shoulder which projects through the outer shell and limits the movement of the locking screw..

FRANK H. CRUMP. 

